Data Request for Local Ballot Initiatives/Referenda (Tennessee Secretary of State)
| Multi Request | Data Request for Local Ballot Initiatives/Referenda |
| Submitted | March 5, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Jimin Han
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
I am requesting data on local ballot initiatives/referenda that took place in the state since 1972. Specifically, I need the following information to be included in the data.
1. Text of the ballot initiative/referendum
2. Local government where the election took place.
3. County where the local government is located
4. Election date
5. Result of election (votes for, votes against, pass/fail)
6. Threshold to pass (50%, two-thirds, etc)
This website from California provides a good example of the type of data I am requesting:
https://data.ca.gov/dataset/election-data/resource/67e83a65-2b55-41ec-9420-b33b666d4711
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Kent Hoover, a citizen of Tennessee, in coordination with Jimin Han.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Tennessee Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 6, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Tennessee Secretary of State
Mr. Hoover,
Your public records request sent on March 5 sought for our office to aggregate the following information and provide it to you:
I am requesting data on local ballot initiatives/referenda that took place in the state since 1972. Specifically, I need the following information to be included in the data.
1. Text of the ballot initiative/referendum
2. Local government where the election took place.
3. County where the local government is located
4. Election date
5. Result of election (votes for, votes against, pass/fail)
6. Threshold to pass (50%, two-thirds, etc)
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, a governmental entity need not create a record that does not exist to answer a question posed to the governmental entity or to aggregate information requested. Our office does not have a single record in existence that provides what you have requested.
Michael Harmon
General Counsel
Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett
600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
1st Floor, State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243
Capitol Office: 615-741-2819
This electronic mail may be subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §10-7-503 et seq. Any reply to this email may also be subject to this act.
Our Core Values: Exceptionalism – Collaboration – Integrity – Stewardship
The mission of the Office of the Secretary of State is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and accountability in a customer-centered environment.
Website: https://sos.tn.gov/
Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/TennesseeSecretaryofState
www.facebook.com/TNStateLibraryArchives/timeline
The information transmitted is intended solely for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of or taking action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Tennessee Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 6, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Tennessee Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 6, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Tennessee Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 6, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Tennessee Secretary of State
Good morning,
I responded to this public records request on March 18, 2024. I have received follow-up emails, so please let me expand on the response.
Our office denies the request. Our office does not have a record that compiles the information requested, and the Tennessee Public Records Act does not require a governmental entity to compile data and create a new record to respond to a public records request. I hope this clarifies the March 18, 2024 response.
Michael Harmon
General Counsel
Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett
600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
1st Floor, State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243
Capitol Office: 615-741-2819
This electronic mail may be subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §10-7-503 et seq. Any reply to this email may also be subject to this act.
Our Core Values: Exceptionalism - Collaboration - Integrity - Stewardship
The mission of the Office of the Secretary of State is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and accountability in a customer-centered environment.
Website: https://sos.tn.gov/
Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/TennesseeSecretaryofState<http://www.facebook.com/TennesseeSecretaryofState>
www.facebook.com/TNStateLibraryArchives/timeline<http://www.facebook.com/TNStateLibraryArchives/timeline>
The information transmitted is intended solely for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination, or other use of or taking action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.